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                             KEY EMPLOYEE AGREEMENT

                                   ----------

         To:      Mr. William C. Dow                      As of August 15, 1997
                  8 Brayton Avenue
                  East Greenwich, Rhode Island  02818

         The  undersigned,  PLC Systems  Inc., a British  Columbia  corporation,
which together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, as well as its successors and
assigns (hereinafter  collectively  referred to as the "Company"),  hereby agree
with you as follows:

         l.       Position and Responsibilities.

                  1.1 You shall serve as President and Chief  Executive  Officer
of the Company and shall  perform the duties  customarily  associated  with such
capacity  from time to time and at such  place or places  as the  Company  shall
designate are  appropriate  and necessary in  connection  with such  employment;
provided,  however,  that you shall not be required  to  relocate  your place of
employment  beyond a 20 mile radius from  Franklin,  Massachusetts  without your
prior written consent. You shall also be appointed, nominated, elected and serve
as a member of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company  as long as you serve as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

                  1.2 You will,  to the best of your  ability,  devote your full
time and best  efforts  to the  performance  of your  duties  hereunder  and the
business  affairs of the Company.  You agree to perform such executive duties as
may be reasonably  assigned to you by or on authority of the Company's  Board of
Directors from time to time.

                  1.3 You will  duly,  punctually  and  faithfully  perform  and
observe any and all reasonable  rules and regulations  which the Company may now
or shall hereafter establish governing the conduct of its business.

                  1.4  You  will  report  directly  to the  Company's  Board  of
Directors.

         2.       Term of Employment.

                  2.1 The initial term of this Agreement shall be for the period
of years  set forth on  Exhibit  "A"  annexed  hereto  commencing  with the date
hereof. Thereafter, this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive
periods of one year,  unless you or the  Company


                                       1







shall  give the other  party not less than three (3)  months  written  notice of
non-renewal.  Your  employment with the Company may be terminated at any time as
provided in Section 2.2 . If the Company  gives you notice of  non-renewal,  the
Company  shall be obligated  to pay to you as  Severance  Benefits an amount set
forth in Section 7 (prior to a "Change of Control" as defined herein) or Section
8 (following a "Change of Control") of Exhibit "A" hereto,  as applicable,  plus
payment in full of any amounts  otherwise  due you,  less  applicable  taxes and
other required withholdings and any amounts you may owe to the Company.

                  2.2 The  Company  shall have the right,  on written  notice to
you, to terminate your employment:

                           (a)  immediately  at any time for "Cause" (as defined
         herein  subject to your right of cure and right to dispute as  provided
         in Section 2.3 herein)stating in such notice the reasons therefor; or

                           (b) at any time,  upon not less  than  seven (7) days
         written notice, without "Cause" provided the Company shall be obligated
         to pay to you as  Severance  Benefits  an amount  equal to the sums set
         forth in Sections 7 or 8 of Exhibit "A" hereto, as applicable.

                  If the Company  shall  terminate  your  employment  under this
Section 2, then the Company shall pay to you, in addition to any sums due to you
under Section  2.2(b),  any sums then due to you through the  effective  date of
your termination, less (i) applicable taxes and other required withholdings, and
(ii) any amounts you may owe to the Company, unless there is a written agreement
to the contrary.  Payments  under Section 2.2 (b) shall not be due or payable if
you are  terminated  at any time for "Cause" or if you  voluntarily  resign from
your employment.

                  2.3 For purposes of Section 2.2 (except as provided in Section
8(c) of Exhibit  "A"),  the term "Cause"  shall mean (a) after 30 days'  written
notice,  willful and continued failure to substantially  perform duties assigned
consistent  with this  agreement  (other than any such failures  resulting  from
physical  or mental  illness  or  death);  (b)  willful  refusal  to  perform or
discharge the duties or  responsibilities  assigned by the Board of Directors of
PLC Systems Inc.  provided the same are not illegal,  unethical or  inconsistent
with the position of President and Chief Executive  Officer of a corporation and
the  failure  to agree to  correct  such  refusal  and  perform  such  duties or
responsibilities  within two weeks (14 calendar  days) after  written  notice of
such  failure and  subsequent  failure to perform;  (c)  conviction  of a felony
involving  moral  turpitude;  (d)  willful or  prolonged  absence  from work not
excused by disability;  and (e) falseness of any warranty or  representation  by
you herein or the breach of your obligations under this Agreement or your duties
as an employee of the Company to the material  detriment of the Company.  During
the  pendency  of any  such  dispute  following  your  termination  pursuant  to
subsection  2.3(a) or (b), the Company will pay you your full  compensation plus
any  benefits  provided  in Section 4 of Exhibit "A" in effect just prior to the
effective  date of  termination  and until the dispute is  resolved,  but in any
event,  such payment  shall not continue for more than 

                                       2







eighteen  (18)  months  and,  if a court  determines  that your  employment  was
terminated  without  cause,  such  payments  shall be credited to any  severance
payments  due you under  Exhibit A.  However,  if such court  issues a final and
non-appealable  order that the Company had Cause to terminate  you then you must
return all  compensation  and the value of all benefits paid and/or  provided to
you after the effective date of termination.

                  2.4 In  the  event  of the  Involuntary  Termination  of  your
employment with the Company at any time, the Company hereby  irrevocably  agrees
to provide  you with  Severance  Benefits as defined in Section 7 of Exhibit "A"
hereto or payments in the event of a "Change in Control" as defined in Section 8
of  Exhibit  "A",  as  applicable.  In  this  regard,  the  phrase  "Involuntary
Termination"  shall mean any termination of your employment by the Company other
than for  "cause," as defined in Section  2.3,  any notice by the Company not to
renew  this  Agreement  pursuant  to Section  2.1,  or any  termination  of your
employment by you due to any of the following circumstances:  (a) a reduction in
your Base Salary or Company-paid  benefits,  (b) a reduction in your eligibility
for any Company bonus or other benefit  program,  (c) a material or  substantial
change  in your  title,  position,  authority  or  duties,  (d) a change of your
principal place of employment from Franklin,  Massachusetts  to another location
beyond  20 miles of  Franklin,  Massachusetts,  (e)  failure  to elect  you as a
Director  of the  Company,  (f) the  breach of any  material  provision  of this
Agreement by the Company  which is not  substantially  cured within  thirty (30)
days  following  written  notice by you to the  Chairman  of the  Board,  or (g)
failure to establish a reasonable incentive plan.

         3.  Compensation.  You shall receive the  compensation and benefits set
forth on Exhibit A hereto  ("Compensation")  for all  services to be rendered by
you hereunder and for your transfer of property  rights pursuant to an agreement
relating  to  proprietary  information  and  inventions  of even  date  herewith
attached  hereto as  Exhibit C between  you and the  Company  (the  "Proprietary
Information and Inventions Agreement").

         4. Other Activities During Employment.

                  4.1 Except for any outside directorships currently held by you
as listed on Exhibit B hereto,  and except with the prior written consent of the
Company's  Board of  Directors,  you will not during the term of this  Agreement
undertake  or  engage  in any  other  employment,  occupation,  directorship  or
business enterprise other than one in which you are an inactive investor,  which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed .

                  4.2 You hereby  agree that,  except as  disclosed on Exhibit B
hereto, during your employment hereunder,  you will not, directly or indirectly,
engage  (a)  individually,  (b)  as an  officer,  (c) as a  director,  (d) as an
employee,  (e) as a consultant,  (f) as an advisor,  (g) as an agent  (whether a
salesperson or  otherwise),  (h) as a broker,  or (i) as a partner,  coventurer,
stockholder  or other  proprietor  owning  directly or indirectly  more than two
percent (2%) interest in any firm, corporation, partnership, trust, association,
or other organization which is engaged in the development of heart laser systems
or any other line of business  engaged in or under


                                       3







demonstrable  development by the Company (such firm,  corporation,  partnership,
trust,  association,  or other organization  being hereinafter  referred to as a
"Prohibited Enterprise"). Except as may be shown on Exhibit B hereto, you hereby
represent  that  you are not  engaged  in any of the  foregoing  capacities  (a)
through (i) in any Prohibited Enterprise.

         5. Former Employers.

                  5.1 You  represent  and warrant  that your  employment  by the
Company  will not  conflict  with and will not be  constrained  by any  prior or
current  employment,  consulting  agreement  or  relationship,  whether  oral or
written.  You  represent  and  warrant  that  you  do not  possess  confidential
information  arising  out  of  any  such  employment,  consulting  agreement  or
relationship which, in your best judgment,  would be utilized in connection with
your employment by the Company in the absence of Section 5.2.

                  5.2 If, in spite of the second  sentence of Section  5.1,  you
should  find that  confidential  information  belonging  to any other  person or
entity might be usable in connection with the Company's  business,  you will not
intentionally  disclose  to the  Company  or use on  behalf of the  Company  any
confidential  information belonging to any of your former employers;  but during
your  employment by the Company you will use in the  performance  of your duties
all  information  which is generally known and used by persons with training and
experience  comparable to your own all information  which is common knowledge in
the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain.

         6.  Proprietary  Information  and  Inventions.  You  agree to  execute,
deliver  and be bound  by the  provisions  of the  Proprietary  Information  and
Inventions Agreement.

         7. Post-Employment Activities.

                  7.1 So long as the Company is not in breach of its obligations
to you  hereunder,  for a period  of two (2)  years  after  the  termination  or
expiration,  for any reason,  of your  employment  with the  Company  hereunder,
absent the Company's prior written approval, you will not directly or indirectly
engage in activities  similar or reasonably  related to those in which you shall
have engaged hereunder during the two years immediately preceding termination or
expiration for, nor render services similar or reasonably related to those which
you shall have rendered hereunder during such two years to, any person or entity
whether now existing or hereafter  established  which directly competes with (or
proposes or plans to directly compete with) the Company ("Direct Competitor") in
any line of business engaged in or under  development by the Company.  Nor shall
you entice,  induce or encourage any of the Company's  other  employees to leave
the Company's employ or engage in any activity which, were it done by you, would
violate any provision of the Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement or
this  Section 7. As used in this  Section  7.1,  the term "any line of  business
engaged in or under  development by the Company" shall be applied as at the date
of termination of your  employment,  or, if later, as at the date of termination
of any post-employment consultation.

                                       4




 
                 7.2 So long as the Company is not in breach of its obligations
to you  hereunder,  for a period of two (2) years after the  termination of your
employment  with the Company,  the provisions of Section 4.2 shall be applicable
to you  and you  shall  comply  therewith.  As  applied  to  such  two (2)  year
post-employment period, the term "any other line of business engaged in or under
development  by the Company," as used in Section 4.2, shall be applied as at the
date of termination of your  employment with the Company or, if later, as at the
date of termination of any post-employment consultation with the Company.

                  7.3 No  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be  construed  to
preclude you from  performing the same services which the Company hereby retains
you to perform for any person or entity which is not a Direct  Competitor of the
Company upon the expiration or termination of your  employment so long as you do
not  thereby  violate any term of the  Proprietary  Information  and  Inventions
Agreement.

         8. Remedies.  Your  obligations  under the Proprietary  Information and
Inventions  Agreement  and  the  provisions  of  Sections  6, 7, 8 and 9 of this
Agreement  (as  modified  by  Section  10,  if  applicable)  shall  survive  the
expiration or termination of your employment  (whether  through your resignation
or otherwise)  with the Company.  You  acknowledge  that a remedy at law for any
breach  or  threatened  breach  by  you  of the  provisions  of the  Proprietary
Information  and  Inventions  Agreement or Section 7 would be inadequate and you
therefore agree that the Company shall be entitled to such injunctive  relief in
case of any such breach or threatened breach.

         The Company's  obligations  and those of any successors or assignees of
the Company  under this  Agreement,  including  but not limited to the severance
provisions  and other  compensation  and benefits due to you pursuant to Exhibit
"A" hereto,  will be a condition of and are to remain those of any  successor or
assignee.  The  Company  acknowledges  that a remedy  at law for any  breach  or
threatened  breach  by  the  Company,  its  directors  or  agents  of any of the
provisions  of Exhibit  "A"  hereto or of this  Agreement  generally,  or of any
extension  of this  Agreement,  would be  inadequate  and the Company  therefore
agrees  that you  shall be  entitled  to  injunctive  relief in case of any such
breach or  threatened  breach.  In the  event of any  dispute  pursuant  to this
Agreement,  the  prevailing  party in any  litigation  or  arbitration  shall be
entitled to prompt  reimbursement  of reasonable legal fees and related expenses
incurred in connection with such dispute.

         9.  Assignment.  This  Agreement and the rights and  obligations of the
parties  hereto  shall  bind  and  inure  to the  benefit  of any  successor  or
successors of the Company by  reorganization,  merger or  consolidation  and any
assignee of all or substantially all of its business and properties, but, except
as to any such successor or assignee of the Company,  neither this Agreement nor
any rights or  benefits  hereunder  may be  assigned  by the  Company or by you,
except by operation of law.

         10.  Interpretation.  IT IS THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES  THAT in case any
one or


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more of the provisions  contained in this Agreement  shall,  for any reason,  be
held to be invalid,  illegal or unenforceable  in any respect,  such invalidity,
illegality  or  unenforceability  shall not affect the other  provisions of this
Agreement,  and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable  provision had never been contained  herein.  MOREOVER,  IT IS THE
INTENT OF THE PARTIES THAT in case any one or more of the  provisions  contained
in this  Agreement  shall for any reason be held to be  excessively  broad as to
duration,  geographical  scope,  activity or subject,  such  provision  shall be
construed  by limiting  and  reducing it as  determined  by a court of competent
jurisdiction,  so as to be enforceable to the extent  compatible with applicable
law.

         11. Notices.  Any notice which the Company is required to or may desire
to give you shall be given by personal delivery or registered or certified mail,
return  receipt  requested,  addressed to you at your address of record with the
Company,  or at such  other  place as you may  from  time to time  designate  in
writing.  Any notice which you are required or may desire to give to the Company
hereunder  shall be given by personal  delivery or by  registered  or  certified
mail,  return  receipt  requested,  addressed  to the  Company at its  principal
office,  or at such other office as the Company may from time to time  designate
in  writing.  The date of  personal  delivery  or the date of mailing any notice
under this Section 11 shall be deemed to be the date of delivery thereof.

         12.  Waivers.  If either party should waive any breach of any provision
of this  Agreement,  such party  shall not  thereby be deemed to have waived any
preceding  or  succeeding  breach  of the same or any  other  provision  of this
Agreement.

         13. Complete Agreement; Amendments. The foregoing including Exhibits A,
B, C and D hereto,  is the entire  agreement  of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof,  superseding any previous oral or written communications,
representations,  understandings,  or agreements with the Company or any officer
or  representative  thereof.  Any  amendment to this  Agreement or waiver by the
Company of any right hereunder shall be effective only if evidenced by a written
instrument  executed by the parties hereto,  upon authorization of the Company's
Board of Directors.

         14.  Headings.  The  headings of the  Sections  hereof are inserted for
convenience  only and shall not be deemed to  constitute  a part  hereof  nor to
affect the meaning of this Agreement.

         15.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement may be signed in two  counterparts,
each of which  shall be  deemed an  original  and both of which  shall  together
constitute one agreement.

         16.  Governing Law. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed
under  Massachusetts law. The exclusive venue for any dispute hereunder shall be
the Superior Court of the Trial Court of the  Commonwealth of  Massachusetts  in
Norfolk County.

         If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign your name below
and also at the


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bottom of the Proprietary  Information and Inventions Agreement,  whereupon this
Agreement shall become binding in accordance with its terms.  Please then return
this Agreement to the Company. (You may retain for your records the accompanying
counterpart of this Agreement enclosed herewith).

                                      Very truly  yours,
                                      PLC SYSTEMS INC.


                                      By:_________________________

                                      Dr. Robert I. Rudko, Chairman and
                                      Acting President, duly authorized


Accepted and Agreed:



_________________________
Mr. William C. Dow



                                       7









                                     
                                                                      EXHIBIT A



                   EMPLOYMENT TERM, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
                              OF MR. WILLIAM C. DOW

l.       Term.  The term of the Agreement to which this Exhibit A is annexed and
         incorporated shall be for a period from the date of this Agreement (the
         "Commencement Date") through August 31, 2000.

2.       Compensation.

                  (a) Base  Salary.  Your Base Salary shall be  $300,000.00  per
         annum  through  December  31,  1998,  payable  in  accordance  with the
         Company's  payroll  policies at the rate of $25,000.00  per month.  For
         future years,  any increases in Base Salary shall be as  established by
         the Board of  Directors.  The Base Salary may not be  decreased  during
         your employment without your approval.

                  (b) Incentive Plan. The parties agree to establish appropriate
         incentive  compensation  plans for each of Fiscal Years 1998 and future
         fiscal years based on a range of incentive pay ranging from 70% to 120%
         of 50% of your Base Salary as described  in (a) above.  Such plan shall
         be based on the Company  attaining  certain  minimum laser  placements,
         revenue and  operating  results and other  strategic  goals equal to at
         least seventy percent (70%) of your performance plan as approved by the
         Board of Directors.  The parties agree that the incentive  compensation
         for fiscal  1997 will be a  guaranteed  $50,000.00  payable  January 2,
         1998.

                  (c) Stock Option Grant. You shall be entitled to receive stock
         option  grants,  in the form of the grant  letters  attached  hereto as
         Exhibits  "D-1" and "D-2",  to receive a  combination  of incentive and
         non-qualified  stock  options to purchase up to an aggregate of 660,000
         shares of the Corporation's  Common Stock at an exercise price equal to
         the  fair  market  value  of  the   Company's   Common  Stock  on  your
         Commencement  Date (the fair market value being calculated as described
         in the Company's Stock Option Plan).

3.       Vacation.  You shall be entitled to all legal and  religious  holidays,
         and  four  weeks  paid  vacation  per  annum.  Up to 50% of any  unused
         vacation  may be accrued or cashed in based on your then  current  Base
         Salary.

4.       Insurance and  Benefits.  You shall be eligible to  participate  in any
         health, dental, disability,  accident and disability insurance or other
         group benefit plan, as well as any other plan, program or policy of the
         Company  intended  to  benefit  employees  and,  in  particular,  plans
         designed to benefit  principal  Company  executives  (including but not


                                      A-1




         limited to stock incentive plans (other than stock option plans), stock
         awards,  etc.)  which may be  established  by the  Company or which the
         Company is required to maintain by law.

5.       Benefit Allowance. The Company shall provide you a benefit allowance of
         15% of your Base Salary, payable in equal monthly installments.

6.       Retirement  Plan.  You will be eligible to participate in the Company's
         401(k)  plan.  If the  Company  elects  to  make  contributions  to the
         Company's  401(k)  plan  or any  Company  retirement  plans,  you  will
         participate  in such  contributions  in  accordance  with  all laws and
         regulations.

7.        Severance Benefits.

                  (a) When provided for in this Agreement, you shall be entitled
         to  "Severance  Benefits".  When  used  in  this  Agreement,  the  term
         Severance  Benefits shall mean a total amount equal to (i) 150% of your
         then  current  annual  Base  Salary,  plus (ii) 150% of your  Incentive
         Compensation  earned for the  Company's  most  recent  fiscal year plus
         (iii) all other benefits  listed in Section 5 of this Exhibit "A". This
         total amount shall be paid to you as follows: 33 1/3% of such Severance
         Benefits  shall be paid to you  within  fourteen  (14) days  after your
         effective date of  termination  and the remaining 66 2/3% shall be paid
         to you in eighteen (18) equal monthly  installments  commencing  within
         forty (40) days after the date of your termination of active employment
         with the  Company.  If the Company  shall have failed to  establish  an
         Incentive  Compensation  plan for you then the  amounts  due  hereunder
         shall  increase  from 150% of your then  current  annual base salary to
         225%.

                  (b) In addition,  the term "Severance  Benefits" shall include
         the continuation for you and your family,  during the Severance Period,
         as defined  below,  of all of the other  benefits which are provided or
         available  to you on the  last  day of your  actual  service  with  the
         Company,  including  your  continued  accrual and the vesting under the
         terms of any  pension or 401(k) plan then  sponsored  by the Company to
         the maximum  extent  permitted by law. For purposes of this  Agreement,
         the term  "Severance  Period"  means the period of eighteen (18) months
         beginning on the last day of your active service with the Company.

                  (c) The payments referred to above will be in addition to, and
         not in  substitution  for,  any  accrued and unpaid  salary,  vacation,
         pension,  retirement or other benefits,  unreimbursed expenses or other
         payments to which you may be otherwise entitled.

                  (d) In the event of your death  while you are  employed by the
         Company,  your then current  Base Salary  shall  continue to be paid to
         your legal  representative  for a period 


                                      A-2






         of 120 days following the date of your death; and for a period of three
         (3) years  following your death,  the Company shall continue to provide
         to your spouse the health  insurance  coverage  described above. If you
         die during the Severance Period, all cash amounts which would have been
         payable to you under this Exhibit "A",  unless  otherwise  provided for
         herein,  shall be paid immediately in accordance with the terms of this
         Agreement to your estate.

                  (e) You shall not be required  to  mitigate  the amount of any
         payment the Company becomes obligated to make to you in connection with
         this Agreement, by seeking other employment or otherwise.

8.       Change in Control.

                  (a) For purposes of this Agreement,  "Change in Control" means
         and shall be deemed to occur if any of the  following  occurs:  (i) the
         acquisition, after September 1, 1997, by an individual, entity or group
         [within the meaning of Section  13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the  Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934 as amended  (the  "Exchange  Act")] of  beneficial
         ownership  (within  the  meaning  of Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the
         Exchange  Act) of 35% or more of either (A) the  outstanding  shares of
         common  stock,  no par  value pr share,  of the  Company  (the  "Common
         Stock"),  or (B) the combined voting power of the voting  securities of
         the Company  entitled to vote  generally  in the  election of directors
         (the "Voting  Securities");  or (ii)  Individuals  who, on September 1,
         1997, constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Incumbent
         Board")  cease for any reason to  constitute at least a majority of the
         Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company;  provided,  however,  that  any
         individual  becoming a director  subsequent  to September 1, 1997 whose
         election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was
         approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then serving
         and comprising  the Incumbent  Board shall be considered as though such
         individual  were a member of the Incumbent  Board,  but excluding,  for
         this purpose,  any such individual  whose initial  assumption of office
         occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened  election  contest
         (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of  Regulation  14A  promulgated
         under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened  solicitation  of
         proxies or consents; or (iii) Approval by the Board of Directors or the
         shareholders of the Company of a (A) tender offer to acquire any of the
         Common Stock or voting securities,  (B)  reorganization,  (C) merger or
         (D) consolidation, other than a reorganization, merger or consolidation
         with respect to which all or  substantially  all of the individuals and
         entities  who were the  beneficial  owners,  immediately  prior to such
         reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the Common Stock and voting
         securities beneficially own, directly or indirectly,  immediately after
         such reorganization, merger or consolidation, more than 80% of the then
         outstanding  common  stock  and  voting  securities  (entitled  to vote
         generally in the election of directors) of the Company  resulting  from
         such reorganization,  merger or consolidation in substantially the same
         proportions as their respective  ownership,  immediately  prior to such
         reorganization,  merger or  consolidation,  of the Common Stock and the
         voting  securities;  or (iv)  Approval 


                                      A-3






         by the Board of Directors or the  shareholders  of the Company of (A) a
         complete or substantial  liquidation or dissolution of the Company,  or
         (B) the sale or other  disposition  (including  by  license)  of all or
         substantially   all  of  the  assets  of  the   Company,   excluding  a
         reorganization  of the Corporation  under the corporate laws of a state
         or province other than British Columbia.

                  (b) In the event of a Change  in  Control  during  the term of
         this Agreement or any extension hereof and provided you remain employed
         by the Company for a period of 12 months  thereafter  (or if you should
         die or become  permanently  disabled during such 12 month period),  you
         (or your  estate) will  receive,  at the  one-year  anniversary  of the
         Change of Control, a supplemental amount in a lump sum equal to 100% of
         your current  Base Salary and  Incentive  Compensation  paid during the
         preceding  fiscal year, and the fair market value of all other benefits
         then payable, irrespective of whether you thereafter actually terminate
         employment with the Company.

                  (c) In the  event of your  actual  termination  of  employment
         contemporaneous  with or  following  a Change in  Control,  except  (x)
         because of your death,  (y) by the Company for Cause or Disability  (as
         each is  hereinafter  defined) or (z) by you other than for Good Reason
         (as hereinafter defined): (i) you shall be entitled to receive, in lieu
         of the sums  described  in this  Section 7, an amount  equal to 299% of
         Severance  Benefits due determined as if payable under Section 7 above,
         to be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; and (ii) the
         following  additional  provisions  shall apply (which  provisions shall
         supersede  any other  provisions  of the  Agreement,  including but not
         limited to Section 2 of the  Agreement,  to the extent such  provisions
         are inconsistent with the following provisions):

                           (1)  Disability.  For purposes of this Section  8(c),
                   termination  by the  Company  of  your  employment  based  on
                   "Disability"  shall mean termination  because of your absence
                   from your  duties  with the  Company on a full time basis for
                   one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days as a result of your
                   incapacity due to physical or mental  illness,  unless within
                   thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination  (as hereinafter
                   defined) is given to you following  such  absence,  you shall
                   have returned to the full time performance of your duties.

                           (2)  Cause.   For  purposes  of  this  Section  8(c),
                   termination  by the  Company of your  employment  for "Cause"
                   shall mean termination for Cause as defined in Section 2.3 of
                   this Agreement.

                           (3)  Good   Reason.   Termination   by  you  of  your
                   employment for "Good Reason" shall mean termination based on:

                           (A)  a  determination  by  you,  in  your  reasonable
                           judgment,  that  there  has been a  material  adverse
                           change in your status or position(s) as President



                                      A-4





                           and Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company  as in
                           effect  immediately  prior to the Change in  Control,
                           including,  without  limitation,  a material  adverse
                           change in your  status or  position  as a result of a
                           diminution in your duties or responsibilities  (other
                           than,  if  applicable,   any  such  change   directly
                           attributable  to the  fact  that  the  Company  is no
                           longer  publicly  owned) or the  assignment to you of
                           any duties or responsibilities which are inconsistent
                           with such  status or  position(s),  or any removal of
                           you from,  or any failure to reappoint or reelect you
                           to, such  position(s)  (except in connection with the
                           termination   of  your   employment   for   Cause  or
                           Disability  or as a  result  of your  death or by you
                           other than for Good Reason);

                           (B) a reduction by the Company in your Base Salary as
                           in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                           (C) the  failure by the Company to continue in effect
                           any  benefits  as  described  above or other Plan (as
                           hereinafter  defined) in which you are  participating
                           at the time of the Change in  Control of the  Company
                           (or Plans  providing you with at least  substantially
                           similar  benefits)  other  than  as a  result  of the
                           normal expiration of any such Plan in accordance with
                           its terms as in  effect at the time of the  Change in
                           Control,  or the taking of any action, or the failure
                           to act, by the Company which would  adversely  affect
                           your continued  participation in any of such Plans on
                           at least as  favorable  a basis to you as is the case
                           on the date of the Change in  Control or which  would
                           materially  reduce your  benefits in the future under
                           any of such  Plans  or  deprive  you of any  material
                           benefit  enjoyed  by you at the time of the Change in
                           Control;

                           (D) the  failure by the Company to provide and credit
                           you with the  number of paid  vacation  days to which
                           you  are  then  entitled  in   accordance   with  the
                           Company's   normal   vacation  policy  as  in  effect
                           immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                           (E) the  Company's  requiring  you to be based at any
                           office  that is greater  than  twenty(20)  miles from
                           where your office is located immediately prior to the
                           Change in Control  except for required  travel on the
                           Company's   business   to  an  extent   substantially
                           consistent with the business travel obligations which
                           you  undertook on behalf of the Company  prior to the
                           Change in Control;

                           (F) the  failure by the  Company  to obtain  from any
                           Successor (as hereinafter defined) the assent to this
                           Agreement contemplated by Section 8(c)(7) hereof;



                                      A-5









                           (G) any purported  termination by the Company of your
                           employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice
                           of Termination satisfying the requirements of Section
                           (8)(c)(4) below (and, if applicable,  Section 8(c)(2)
                           above);  and for purposes of this Agreement,  no such
                           purported termination shall be effective; or

                           (H)  the  failure  by  the  Company  to  fulfill  any
                           material  obligation  contained in this Agreement and
                           such  breach  continues  for a period of thirty  (30)
                           days following  written notice to the Chairman of the
                           Board regarding such breach.

                                    For purposes of this Agreement, "Plan" shall
                   mean any compensation  plan or any employee benefit plan such
                   as a thrift,  pension, profit sharing,  medical,  disability,
                   accident,  life insurance plan or a relocation plan or policy
                   or any other plan,  program or policy of the Company intended
                   to benefit employees and, in particular,  such Plans designed
                   to benefit the President and CEO or Company executives

                                    (4)  Notice of  Termination.  Any  purported
                   termination  by the  Company or by you  following a Change in
                   Control shall be communicated by at least seven days' written
                   notice to the other party hereto which indicates the specific
                   termination  provision  in this  Agreement  relied  upon (the
                   "Notice of Termination").

                                    (5)   Date   of   Termination.    "Date   of
                   Termination"  following a Change in Control shall mean (A) if
                   your  employment is to be terminated for  Disability,  thirty
                   (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that
                   you shall not have returned to the performance of your duties
                   on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), (B)
                   if your employment is to be terminated by the Company for any
                   reason other than death or  Disability  or by you pursuant to
                   Sections  8(c)(3)(F) or 8(c)(7)  hereof or for any other Good
                   Reason,  the date specified in the Notice of Termination,  or
                   (C) if your  employment  is  terminated  on  account  of your
                   death,  the day after your death.  In the case of termination
                   of your  employment  by the  Company  for Cause  pursuant  to
                   Subsection   8(c)(2)  hereof,  if  you  have  not  previously
                   expressly agreed in writing to the  termination,  then within
                   thirty  (30)  days  after  receipt  by you of the  Notice  of
                   Termination with respect thereto,  you may notify the Company
                   that a dispute exists  concerning the  Termination,  in which
                   event the Date of Termination shall be the date set either by
                   mutual  written  agreement  of the  parties  or by such court
                   having the matter  before it. During the pendency of any such
                   dispute,  the  Company  will  continue  to pay you your  full
                   compensation  and  benefits  as provided in Section 4 of this
                   Exhibit  "A" in effect  just  prior to the time the Notice of
                   Termination  is given  and 



                                      A-6




                   until the dispute is resolved.  However, if such court issues
                   a final and non-appealable order finding that the Company had
                   Cause to terminate you, then you must return all compensation
                   paid to you after the Date of  Termination  specified  in the
                   Notice of Termination previously received by you.

                                    (6) Compensation  Upon Termination or During
                                        Disability; Other Agreements.

                           (A) During any period  following  a Change in Control
                           of the Company  that you fail to perform  your duties
                           as a result of  incapacity  due to physical or mental
                           illness,  you shall  continue  to  receive  your Base
                           Salary at the rate then in effect and any benefits or
                           awards under any Plan shall continue to accrue during
                           such period, to the extent not inconsistent with such
                           Plans, until and unless your employment is terminated
                           pursuant to and in accordance with this Section 8(c).
                           Thereafter,  your  benefits  shall be  determined  in
                           accordance with the Plans then in effect.

                           (B)  Subject  to Section 8 (c) (5),  hereof,  if your
                           employment is terminated for Cause following a Change
                           in Control of the Company,  the Company  shall pay to
                           you your Base Salary  through the Date of Termination
                           at the rate in effect just prior to the time a Notice
                           of  Termination  is given plus any benefits or awards
                           which  pursuant  to the terms of any Plans  have been
                           earned or become payable, but which have not yet been
                           paid to you.  Thereupon  the  Company  shall  have no
                           further obligations to you under this Agreement.

                           (7)      Successors, Binding Agreement.

                           (A) The  Company  will seek,  by  written  request at
                           least  five  (5)  business  days  prior to the time a
                           Person becomes a Successor (as hereinafter  defined),
                           to  have  such  Person,  by  agreement  in  form  and
                           substance   satisfactory   to  you,   assent  to  the
                           fulfillment of the Company's  obligations  under this
                           Agreement.  Failure of such  Person to  furnish  such
                           assent by the later of (i)  three (3)  business  days
                           prior to the time such Person  becomes a Successor or
                           (ii) two (2) business days after such Person receives
                           a written request to so assent shall  constitute Good
                           Reason for termination by you of your employment if a
                           Change  in  Control  of  the  Company  occurs  or has
                           occurred. For purposes of this Agreement, "Successor"
                           shall mean any person  that  succeeds  to, or has the
                           practical  ability to control (either  immediately or
                           with the  passage of time),  the  Company's  business
                           directly, by merger or consolidation,  or indirectly,
                           by purchase of the Company's  securities  eligible to
                           vote for the election of directors, or otherwise.


                                      A-7





                           (B) This Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and
                           be     enforceable    by    your    personal    legal
                           representatives,      executors,      administrators,
                           successors,   heirs,   distributees,   devisees   and
                           legatees.  If you should  die while any amount  would
                           still  be  payable  to  you   hereunder  if  you  had
                           continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise
                           provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the
                           terms of this  Agreement to your devisee,  legatee or
                           other  designee or, if no such  designee  exists,  to
                           your estate.

                           (C) For  purposes  of this  Section 8, the  "Company"
                           shall include any subsidiaries of the Company and any
                           corporation or other entity which is the surviving or
                           continuing   entity  in   respect   of  any   merger,
                           consolidation  or form  of  business  combination  in
                           which the Company ceases to exist; provided, however,
                           for  purposes  of  determining  whether  a Change  in
                           Control has occurred herein, the term "Company" shall
                           refer to PLC Systems Inc. or its Successor(s).

                  (8)      Fees and Expenses; Mitigation.

                           (A) The  Company  shall  reimburse  you, on a current
                           basis,  for all  reasonable  legal  fees and  related
                           expenses  incurred  by you  in  connection  with  the
                           Agreement  following  a  Change  in  Control  of  the
                           Company,  including without limitation,  (i) all such
                           fees and expenses,  if any, incurred in contesting or
                           disputing  any  termination  of  your  employment  or
                           defending  yourself  in  any  claim  brought  by  the
                           Company  to  the  effect  that  your   position   was
                           frivolous  or  advanced  in bad  faith,  or (ii) your
                           seeking  to obtain or  enforce  any right or  benefit
                           provided by this Agreement,  in each case, regardless
                           of  whether or not your claim is upheld by a court of
                           competent jurisdiction;  provided, however, you shall
                           be required to repay any such  amounts to the Company
                           to the  extent  that  a  court  issues  a  final  and
                           non-appealable  order setting forth the determination
                           that  the  position  taken  by you was  frivolous  or
                           advanced by you in bad faith.

                           (B) You shall not be required to mitigate  the amount
                           of any payment the Company becomes  obligated to make
                           to you in connection with this Agreement,  by seeking
                           other employment or otherwise.

                           (C)  All  payments  to be  made  to  you  under  this
                           Agreement will be subject to required  withholding of
                           federal, state and local income and employment taxes.

                           (D)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this
                           Agreement,  in the event that any  payment of benefit
                           received  or to be  received by you as a


                                      A-8




                           result of or in connection  with a Change in Control,
                           whether  pursuant to the terms of this  Agreement  or
                           any other plan,  arrangement  or  agreement  with the
                           Company  (all  such   payment  and   benefits   being
                           hereinafter   called  the  "Total   Payments")  would
                           subject  you to the  excise  tax (the  "Excise  Tax")
                           imposed  under  Section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue
                           Code of 1986, as amended (the  "Code"),  then, to the
                           extent  necessary to eliminate any such imposition of
                           the  Excise  Tax  (after   taking  into  account  any
                           reduction in the Total  Payments in  accordance  with
                           the  provisions  of any other  plan,  arrangement  or
                           agreement,   if  any),  (a)  any  non-cash  severance
                           payments  otherwise  payable  to you  shall  first be
                           reduced  (if  necessary,  to zero),  and (b) any cash
                           severance payment otherwise payable to you shall next
                           be reduced. For purposes of the immediately preceding
                           sentence,  (i) no portion of the Total  Payments  the
                           receipt  or   enjoyment   of  which  you  shall  have
                           effectively  waived in  writing  shall be taken  into
                           account,  (ii) no portion of the Total  Payment shall
                           be  taken  into  account  which  in  the  opinion  of
                           nationally-recognized tax counsel or certified public
                           accountants  (in each case as  selected  by you) does
                           not  constitute  a  "parachute  payment"  within  the
                           meaning  of  Section  280G  of the  Code,  including,
                           without  limitation,  by reason of Section 280G(b)(2)
                           or (b)(4)(A)  of the Code,  (iii) any payments to you
                           shall be reduced only to the extent necessary so that
                           the Total  Payments  [other than those referred to in
                           clauses  (i) and (ii)] in their  entirety  constitute
                           reasonable   compensation   for   services   actually
                           rendered within the meaning of section  280G(4)(B) of
                           the Code or are otherwise not subject to disallowance
                           as  deductions,  in the opinion of the tax counsel or
                           the accountants  referred to in clause (ii); and (iv)
                           the value of any  non-cash  benefit  or any  deferred
                           payment or  benefit  included  in the Total  Payments
                           shall be determined by such accountants in accordance
                           with the  requirements of Section  280G(d)(3) and (4)
                           of the Code (and such determination shall be reviewed
                           by such tax counsel).

                      [THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]




                                      A-9







                                                                       EXHIBIT B


                    OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENTS AND DIRECTORSHIPS OF

                                 MR. WILLIAM DOW



                       Director - AmeriClean Systems Inc.




                                      B-1










                                                                       EXHIBIT C
                                   ----------

                PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT

                                   ----------

To:      PLC Systems Inc.
         10 Forge Park
         Franklin, Massachusetts  02038

                                                       As of  September  1, 1997

         The  undersigned,  in  consideration  of  and  as  a  condition  of  my
employment  or continued  employment  by you and/or by companies  which you own,
control,  or are affiliated with or their successors in business  (collectively,
the "Company"), hereby agrees as follows:

         1. Confidentiality. I agree to keep confidential, except as the Company
may otherwise consent in writing,  and, except for the Company's benefit, not to
disclose  or make any use of at any  time  either  during  or  subsequent  to my
employment, any Inventions (as hereinafter defined), trade secrets, confidential
information,  knowledge,  data or other  information of the Company  relating to
products,  processes,  know-how,  designs,  formulas, test data, customer lists,
business plans,  marketing plans and strategies,  pricing  strategies,  or other
subject  matter  pertaining  to  any  business  of  the  Company  or  any of its
affiliates,  which I may produce, obtain, or otherwise acquire during the course
of my  employment,  except as herein  provided.  I further agree not to deliver,
reproduce or in any way allow any such trade secrets,  confidential information,
knowledge, data or other information,  or any documentation relating thereto, to
be  delivered  to or used by any third  parties  without  specific  direction or
consent of a duly  authorized  representative  of the Company,  except as may be
required by law and with the  exception  of  information  rightfully  within the
public domain.

         2.  Conflicting   Employment;   Return  of  Confidential  Material.  In
accordance  with the provisions of the Key Employment  Agreement  between myself
and the Company of same date, I agree that during my employment with the Company
I will not  engage  in any other  employment,  occupation,  consulting  or other
activity  relating to the business in which the Company is now or may  hereafter
become  engaged,  or which would  otherwise  conflict with my obligations to the
Company.  In the event my employment with the Company  terminates for any reason
whatsoever,  I agree to  promptly  surrender  and  deliver  to the  Company  all
records,  materials,  equipment,  drawings,  documents  and  data of which I may
obtain or produce during the course of my  employment,  and I will not take with
me any  description  containing or pertaining to any  confidential  information,
knowledge or data of the Company which I may produce or obtain during the course
of my employment.


                                      C-1





         3.       Assignment of Inventions.

                  3.1 I hereby  acknowledge  and agree  that the  Company is the
owner of all  Inventions.  In order to  protect  the  Company's  rights  to such
Inventions,  by  executing  this  Agreement I hereby  irrevocably  assign to the
Company  all my  right,  title  and  interest  in and to all  Inventions  to the
Company.

                  3.2 For purposes of this  Agreement,  "Inventions"  shall mean
all discoveries,  processes, designs, technologies,  devices, or improvements in
any of the foregoing or other ideas,  whether or not  patentable  and whether or
not reduced to practice, made or conceived by me (whether solely or jointly with
others) during the period of my employment  with the Company which relate in any
manner to the actual or demonstrably anticipated business, work, or research and
development of the Company, or result from or are suggested by any task assigned
to me or any work performed by me for or on behalf of the Company.

                   3.3 Any discovery,  process, design,  technology,  device, or
improvement  in any of the foregoing or other ideas,  whether or not  patentable
and whether or not reduced to practice,  made or conceived by me (whether solely
or jointly with others) which I develop entirely on my own time not using any of
the  Company's  equipment,  supplies,  facilities,  or trade secret  information
("Personal  Invention") is excluded from this  Agreement  provided such Personal
Invention  (a)  does  not  relate  to the  actual  or  demonstrably  anticipated
business,  research and  development  of the  Company,  and (b) does not result,
directly or indirectly, from any work performed by me for the Company.

         4.  Disclosure  of  Inventions.  I agree  that in  connection  with any
Invention,  I will promptly disclose such Invention to my immediate  superior at
the  Company in order to permit the Company to enforce  its  property  rights to
such  Invention  in  accordance  with this  Agreement.  My  disclosure  shall be
received in confidence by the Company.

         5. Patents and Copyrights; Execution of Documents.

                  5.1 Upon request, I agree to assist the Company or its nominee
(at its expense)  during and at any time  subsequent  to my  employment in every
reasonable  way to  obtain  for its  own  benefit  patents  and  copyrights  for
Inventions in any and all countries.  Such patents and  copyrights  shall be and
remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company or its nominee. I agree to
perform  such lawful acts as the Company  deems to be  necessary  to allow it to
exercise all right, title and interest in and to such patents and copyrights.

                   5.2 In connection  with this  Agreement,  I agree to execute,
acknowledge  and deliver to the Company or its nominee  upon  request and at its
expense all  documents,  including  assignments  of title,  patent or  copyright
applications,  assignments  of such  applications,  assignments  of  patents  or
copyrights upon issuance, as the Company may determine necessary or desirable to
protect the Company's or its nominee's interest in Inventions,  and/or to use in

                                      C-2






obtaining  patents  or  copyrights  in any and all  countries  and to vest title
thereto in the Company or its nominee to any of the foregoing.

          6. Maintenance of Records.  I agree to keep and maintain  adequate and
current  written  records  of all  Inventions  made by me (in the form of notes,
sketches,  drawings and other records as may be specified by the Company), which
records shall be available to and remain the sole property of the Company at all
times.

         7. Prior Inventions.  It is understood that all Personal Inventions, if
any, whether patented or unpatented,  which I made prior to my employment by the
Company, are excluded from this Agreement. To preclude any possible uncertainty,
I have set forth on  Schedule  A attached  hereto a  complete  list of all of my
prior  Personal  Inventions,   including  numbers  of  all  patents  and  patent
applications and a brief description of all unpatented Personal Inventions which
are not the property of a previous  employer.  I represent and covenant that the
list is  complete  and that,  if no items are on the list,  I have no such prior
Personal Inventions.  I agree to notify the Company in writing before I make any
disclosure  or  perform  any work on  behalf of the  Company  which  appears  to
threaten or conflict with proprietary rights I claim in any Personal  Invention.
In the event of my  failure  to give such  notice,  I agree  that I will make no
claim against the Company with respect to any such Personal Invention.

         8. Other Obligations.  I acknowledge that the Company from time to time
may have agreements  with other persons or with the U.S.  Government or agencies
thereof,  which impose  obligations  or  restrictions  on the Company  regarding
Inventions   made  during  the  course  of  work  thereunder  or  regarding  the
confidential  nature of such work.  I agree to be bound by all such  obligations
and  restrictions  and to take all action  necessary to discharge  the Company's
obligations.

         9. Trade Secrets of Others.  I represent that my performance of all the
terms of this  Agreement and as an employee of the Company does not and will not
breach any agreement to keep confidential proprietary information,  knowledge or
data acquired by me in  confidence  or in trust prior to my employment  with the
Company,  and I will not disclose to the Company,  or induce the Company to use,
any  confidential  or  proprietary  information  or  material  belonging  to any
previous  employer  or others.  I agree not to enter into any  agreement  either
written or oral in conflict herewith.

         10.  Modification.  I agree that any subsequent change or changes in my
employment duties,  salary or compensation or, if applicable,  in any Employment
Agreement  between the Company and me, shall not affect the validity or scope of
this Agreement.

         11.  Successors and Assigns.  This  Agreement  shall be binding upon my
heirs,  executors,  administrators or other legal representatives and is for the
benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns.



                                      C-3





         12.  Interpretation.  IT IS THE INTENT OF THE PARTIES  THAT in case any
one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason,
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality  or  unenforceability  shall not affect the other  provisions of this
Agreement,  and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable  provision had never been contained  herein.  MOREOVER,  IT IS THE
INTENT OF THE PARTIES THAT in case any one or more of the  provisions  contained
in this  Agreement  shall for any reason be held to be  excessively  broad as to
duration,  geographical  scope,  activity or subject,  such  provision  shall be
construed by limiting and reducing it in  accordance  with a judgment of a court
of competent jurisdiction, so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with
applicable law.

         13.  Waivers.  If either party should waive any breach of any provision
of this  Agreement,  he or it shall not  thereby  be deemed to have  waived  any
preceding  or  succeeding  breach  of the same or any  other  provision  of this
Agreement.

         14.  Complete  Agreement,  Amendments.  I  acknowledge  receipt of this
Agreement,  and agree that with respect to the subject  matter  thereof it is my
entire  agreement  with the Company,  superseding  any previous  oral or written
communications, representations,  understandings, or agreements with the Company
or any officer or  representative  thereof.  Any amendment to this  Agreement or
waiver  by  either  party of any  right  hereunder  shall be  effective  only if
evidenced by a written  instrument  executed by the parties hereto,  and, in the
case of the  Company,  upon  written  authorization  of the  Company's  Board of
Directors.

         15.  Headings  and  Counterparts;  Governing  Law.  The headings of the
sections  hereof are  inserted for  convenience  only and shall not be deemed to
constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning  thereof.  This Agreement may
be signed in two  counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an  original  and
both of which shall together  constitute one agreement.  This Agreement shall be
governed and construed under Massachusetts law.

         17 Employment  Status.  Nothing in this  Agreement  shall affect in any
manner  whatsoever the right or power of the Company to terminate the employment
of the Employee.

                                       EMPLOYEE



                                       _____________________________
                                       William C. Dow
Accepted and Agreed:
PLC SYSTEMS INC.


By:______________________________________________________
     Dr. Robert I. Rudko, Chairman and  Acting President


                                      C-4




                                                                      SCHEDULE A


                            LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS


                                         Identifying Number of
Title             Date                   Brief Description
- -----             ----                   -----------------

                                         NONE














                                      C-5











                                PLC SYSTEMS INC.
                                  10 Forge Park
                          Franklin, Massachusetts 02038



                                                                     EXHIBIT D-1


                                                  August 15, 1997


Mr. William C. Dow
8 Brayton Avenue
East Greenwich, Rhode Island  02818


Dear Bill:

         I am pleased  to advise  you that PLC  SYSTEMS  INC.  (the  "Company"),
pursuant  to its 1995 Stock  Option Plan (the "1995  Plan"),  has awarded you an
incentive  stock option to purchase up to 15,534 shares of the Common Stock,  no
par value per share, of the Company at a price of $12.875 per share, for a total
exercise  price of  $200,000.00.  The Company is making this offer to "share the
business" with valued employees such as yourself. We hope that by owning a piece
of the Company you will  continue  your  efforts at helping the Company grow and
succeed.

         The following  terms and conditions are applicable with respect to this
option,  and your  signature  below shall  constitute  your  acknowledgment  and
acceptance of same:

         (a)      This option shall not be transferrable under any circumstances
                  except by operation of law. During your lifetime,  this option
                  is only  exercisable  by you,  and after your  death,  is only
                  exercisable by your estate.

         (b)      The  price at which  this  option  may be  exercised  shall be
                  $12.875 per share, for a total exercise price of $200,000.00.

         (c)      This  option  is  exercisable  prior  to  August  15,  2007 as
                  follows:  7,767 shares shall vest immediately and 7,767 shares
                  shall vest on January 1, 1998, subject to the following terms:

                  (1)      In the event of termination of your  employment  with
                           the  Company  (or  a  parent  or  subsidiary  of  the
                           Company)   for  any   reason   other  than  death  or
                           disability  as  defined  in  Internal   Revenue  Code
                           Section  22  (e)(3),  as amended  (the  "Code"),  all
                           unexercised  options shall terminate ninety (90) days
                           following the effective date of your termination.



                                      C-6



                  (2)      In the event of termination  of your  employment as a
                           result  of  your  death,   the  outstanding   options
                           exercisable  by you at the date of your  death may be
                           exercised  by your estate until one (1) year from the
                           date of your  death,  but in no event  no later  than
                           August 15, 2007.

                  (3)      In the event of termination  of your  employment as a
                           result of your  disability,  as above defined,  or in
                           the event of a  disability  that  lasts for more than
                           ninety (90) days, all outstanding options exercisable
                           by  you  at  the  date  of  such  termination   shall
                           terminate one (1) year from the date your  employment
                           terminates, but in any event no later than August 15,
                           2007.

         (d)      Subject to the  foregoing,  this  option may be  exercised  in
                  whole or part from time to time,  provided,  however,  that an
                  option may not be  exercised as to less than 100 shares at any
                  one time unless it is being  exercised in full and the balance
                  of the shares subject to option is less than 100.

         (e)      The  shares of Common  Stock  underlying  this  option and the
                  exercise price therefore shall be appropriately  adjusted from
                  time to time for stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends
                  and reclassifications of shares.

         (f)      In the event of a sale or acquisition of substantially  all of
                  the stock or assets of the Company,  the Company shall give at
                  least thirty (30) days' notice of such an event to you and you
                  may exercise up to 100% of this option. If you do not exercise
                  the  option  within  thirty  (30)  days  of such  notice,  all
                  unexercised  portions of this option shall terminate and be of
                  no further force or effect.

         Exercising  options  may not be a prudent  business  decision  for some
employees.  Therefore, we urge you to review this opportunity carefully and make
a decision to exercise options only if your personal  financial  situation makes
this a wise choice.

         When  you wish to  exercise  this  stock  option,  please  refer to the
provisions  of this letter and then  correspond in writing with the Secretary of
the Company. Further, please indicate your acknowledgment and acceptance of this
option by signing  the  enclosed  copy of this  letter and  returning  it to the
undersigned.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          PLC SYSTEMS INC.


                                          By:_____________________________
                                                Dr. Robert I. Rudko, Chairman
                                                and Acting President



                                       C-7




ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ACCEPTANCE:



_______________________________
William C. Dow

















                                      C-8








                                PLC SYSTEMS INC.
                                  10 Forge Park
                          Franklin, Massachusetts 02038

                                                                    EXHIBIT D-2
                                                        August 15, 1997


Mr. William C. Dow
8 Brayton Avenue
East Greenwich, Rhode Island  02818



Dear Bill:

         I am pleased  to advise  you that PLC  SYSTEMS  INC.  (the  "Company"),
pursuant to its 1997 Executive Stock Option Plan (the "1997 Plan"),  has awarded
you a non-qualified  stock option to purchase up to 644,466 shares of the Common
Stock,  no par value per share,  of the Company at a price of $12.875 per share,
for a total exercise price of $8,297,499.75. The Company is making this offer to
"share the business"  with valued  employees  such as yourself.  We hope that by
owning a piece of the  Company  you will  continue  your  efforts at helping the
Company grow and succeed.

         The following  terms and conditions are applicable with respect to this
option,  and your  signature  below shall  constitute  your  acknowledgment  and
acceptance of same:

         (a)      This option shall not be transferrable under any circumstances
                  except by operation of law. During your lifetime,  this option
                  is only  exercisable  by you,  and after your  death,  is only
                  exercisable by your estate.

         (b)      The  price at which  this  option  may be  exercised  shall be
                  $12.875   per   share,   for  a  total   exercise   price   of
                  $18,297,499.75.

         (c)      This option is exercisable  commencing  immediately and at any
                  time  hereafter  prior to  August  15,  2007,  subject  to the
                  following terms:

                  (1)      In the event of termination of your  employment  with
                           the  Company  (or  a  parent  or  subsidiary  of  the
                           Company)   for  any   reason   other  than  death  or
                           disability  as  defined  in  Internal   Revenue  Code
                           Section  22  (e)(3),  as amended  (the  "Code"),  all
                           unexercised  options shall terminate ninety (90) days
                           following the effective date of your  termination and
                           all unvested options shall terminate immediately.

                                      C-9






                  (2)      All  options  which have  vested at the time you have
                           ceased  employment  with the  Company due to death or
                           disability  shall be  exercisable  through August 15,
                           2007.

        (d)       The  maximum  extent to which  this  option  may be  exercised
                  (except as provided in Subsection (g) below) is as follows:

                  (1)       115,000  shares  shall vest upon the  earlier of (i)
                            receipt by the Company of premarket approval for its
                            Heart   Laser   from   the   U.S.   Food   and  Drug
                            Administration, or (ii) August 15, 2000.

                  (2)      115,000 shares shall vest upon the earlier of (i) the
                           release  of  audited  financial   statements  by  the
                           Company  for a  completed  fiscal  year in which  the
                           Company   reports   positive   earnings  after  taxes
                           (exclusive of  extraordinary  items of gain or loss),
                           or (ii) August 15, 2000.

                  (3)      115,000 shares shall vest upon the earlier of (i) the
                           30th  consecutive  trading  day  when  the  Company's
                           closing price for its Common Stock as reported by the
                           American  Stock  Exchange  (or, if the Company is not
                           then trading its Common  Stock on the American  Stock
                           Exchange,  on the  exchange  on which  the  Company's
                           Common  Stock  is then  listed)  exceeds  $15.00  per
                           share, or (ii) August 15, 2000.

                  (4)      50,000  shares shall vest upon the earlier of (i) the
                           30th  consecutive  trading  day  when  the  Company's
                           closing price for its Common Stock as reported by the
                           American  Stock  Exchange  (or, if the Company is not
                           then trading its Common  Stock on the American  Stock
                           Exchange,  on the  exchange  on which  the  Company's
                           Common  Stock  is then  listed)  exceeds  $18.00  per
                           share, or (ii) August 15, 2002

                  (5)      50,000  shares shall vest upon the earlier of (i) the
                           30th  consective   trading  day  when  the  Company's
                           closing price for its Common Stock as reported by the
                           American  Stock  Exchange  (or, if the Company is not
                           then trading its Common  Stock on the American  Stock
                           Exchange,  on the  exchange  on which  the  Company's
                           Common  Stock  is then  listed)  exceeds  $21.50  per
                           share, or (ii) August 15, 2002

                  (6)      50,000  shares shall vest upon the earlier of (i) the
                           30th  consective   trading  day  when  the  Company's
                           closing price for its Common Stock as reported by the
                           American  Stock  Exchange  (or, if the Company is not
                           then trading its Common  Stock on the American  Stock
                           Exchange,  on the  exchange  on which  the  Company's
                           Common  Stock  is then  listed)  exceeds  $35.00  per




                                      C-10






                           share, or (ii) August 15, 2002

                  (7)      50,000  shares shall vest upon the earlier of (i) the
                           30th  consective   trading  day  when  the  Company's
                           closing price for its Common Stock as reported by the
                           American  Stock  Exchange  (or, if the Company is not
                           then trading its Common  Stock on the American  Stock
                           Exchange,  on the  exchange  on which  the  Company's
                           Common  Stock  is then  listed)  exceeds  $40.00  per
                           share, or (ii) August 15, 2002

                  (8)       20,983 shares shall vest immediately.

                  (9)       20,983 shares shall vest on December 1, 1997.

                  (10)      28,750 shares shall vest on March 1, 1998.

                  (11)      28,750 shares shall vest on June 1, 1998.


         (e)      Subject to the  foregoing,  this  option may be  exercised  in
                  whole or part from time to time,  provided,  however,  that an
                  option may not be  exercised as to less than 100 shares at any
                  one time unless it is being  exercised in full and the balance
                  of the shares subject to option is less than 100.

         (f)      The  shares of Common  Stock  underlying  this  option and the
                  exercise price therefore shall be appropriately  adjusted from
                  time to time for stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends
                  and reclassifications of shares.

         (g)      In the event of a sale or acquisition of substantially  all of
                  the stock or assets of the Company,  the Company shall give at
                  least thirty (30) days' notice of such an event to you and you
                  may  exercise up to 100% of this  option,  whether  previously
                  vested or unvested.  If you do not exercise the option  within
                  thirty (30) days of such notice,  all unexercised  portions of
                  this  option  shall  terminate  and be of no further  force or
                  effect.

         Exercising  options  may not be a prudent  business  decision  for some
employees.  Therefore, we urge you to review this opportunity carefully and make
a decision to exercise options only if your personal  financial  situation makes
this a wise choice.

         When  you wish to  exercise  this  stock  option,  please  refer to the
provisions  of this letter and then  correspond in writing with the Secretary of
the Company. Further, please indicate your acknowledgment and acceptance of this
option by signing  the  enclosed  copy of this  letter and  returning  it to the
undersigned.

                                                              Very truly yours,

 

                                      C-11






                                         PLC SYSTEMS INC.


                                          By:_____________________________
                                                Dr. Robert I. Rudko, Chairman
                                                and Acting President



ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ACCEPTANCE:


______________________________
William C. Dow






                                      C-12